Tiger aircraft sighted again?

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 November 1998, 03:45 GMT]An unidentified aircraft believed to be flown by the Liberation Tigers was sighted in Thondamanaaru in Jaffna, said Sri Lankan Navy sources. The aircraft was spotted in Myliddi by a SLN patrol which opened fire at the plane, they added.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan military spokesman Brig. Tennekoon said that a similar plane was sighted on the 12th and 13th of November. He further added that there is no conclusive evidence that the aircraft belonged to the Tigers and that the army is conducting investigations on this matter.

An earlier report said that it was a commercial aircraft flying between India and Colombo.

Colombo press reported recently that the Liberation Tigers have built in Mullaitivu an air-strip which was used by the Sri Lankan Army when it had a base there. The base was overrun by the Tigers in 1996.

Meanwhile Sri Lankan Army sources said all its camps in the Jaffna peninsula have been placed on high security alert and the Sri Lankan Navy has stepped up patrol in Karainakar and Kayts seas, sources said.